This paper investigates temperature measurement using acoustic pyrometry in hot zones and flames. For experiments in flameless hot zones, a Hartmann whistle is used as the acoustic source. Time of flight of sound waves in the heated path is calculated by cross-correlating the signals received by two microphones placed at pipe ends. Acoustic pyrometry is also performed for estimation of flame temperature in kerosene wick and candle flames, using a speaker as the acoustic source. Since length scales of single flames are small, leading to short times-of-flight, appropriate temperature profiling strategies for flame temperature estimation are identified. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.